Don’t Drag The Name Of The Judiciary In The Mud, Gov. Fayemi Warns Segun Oni

Governor Fayemi who made this statement in a letter with Ref No: ROB/CC/R.O/ JKF/01/19, dated the 8^th day of April, 2019, signed by his counsel, Chief R.O Balogun, and made available to TheNigerialawyer (TNL), emphasized that the letter which was made available to the press and bloggers and published on the internet, alleging among others that excerpts of the Judgment of the Court of Appeal in CA/EK/94/2018 yet to be delivered were posted on social media and taken down shortly before they could capture and print same, shouldn’t have been made public. According to Governor Fayemi, he is worried because Segun Oni is casting aspersions on the revered Institution of the Judiciary, insinuating that the Court of Appeal has made the Judgment of the Court available to him and his so called supporters before the Judgment was delivered. He noted that this is a serious imputation on the character of the Justices of Court of Appeal that heard the appeals before the Court of Appeal. Speaking further, he noted that he is not aware of the posts Mr. Oni referred to in his letter and his attention was never drawn to them until now through the letter. He noted that as a responsible citizen who has due regard for the Institution of the Judiciary and as an advocate of the observance of the Rule of law, he will never either directly or through anybody interfere directly or indirectly with the judicial process or pre-empting the judgment of Courts or do anything that is capable of subjecting the Apex Court or any Court into opprobrium and disrepute. “Our client being a responsible citizen who has due regard for the Institution of the Judiciary and as an advocate of the observance of the Rule of law will never either directly or through anybody interfere directly or indirectly with the judicial process or pre-empting the judgment of Courts or do anything that is capable of subjecting the Apex Court or any Court into opprobrium and disrepute. Our client is not aware of the posts you referred to in your letter and his attention was never drawn to them until now through your letter. “Your client’s pontification and unfounded assertion that various social media platforms known to be sponsored and promoted by supporters of our client “Once again started floating and peddling information to the effect that Supreme court dismissed Engr. Segun Oni’s case and affirmed the Court of Appeal Judgment in favour of Dr. Fayemi” is quite unfortunate. Our client is deeply worried and perturbed by your bare assertion that excerpts of the Judgment of the Court of Appeal in CA/EK/94/2018 yet to be delivered were posted on social media and you claimed “was taken down” shortly before your client could capture and print the excerpts. “Our client as a responsible citizen of this country is worried because your client is casting aspersions on the revered Institution of the Judiciary, your client from the tone of your letter insinuated that the Court of Appeal has made the Judgment of the Court available to our client and his so called supporters before the Judgment was delivered. This is a serious imputation on the character of the Justices of Court of Appeal that heard the appeals before the Court of Appeal. “It is to be noted that Dr. John Kayode Fayemi also appealed against the decisions of the Federal High Court on jurisdiction of the trial court to entertain the case and failure of the trial Court to pronounce on the effect of the Fourth Alteration to the Constitution which forbids declaring any person as the winner of an election without participation in all the stages of the election. Your client ought to be informed that Dr. Kayode Fayemi’s appeal was also dismissed like the appeal of your client in the court of Appeal. The insinuation of leaked Judgment with respect is unfounded,” he said. Dr. John Kayode Fayemi through his counsel also said that Mr. Segun Oni ought to be informed that he also has a pending appeal and a cross appeal to be determined alongside the appeal of Engr. Segun Oni, stressing that, it is curious that heavy weather is being made of the posts that were allegedly posted on social media the same date the Appeals were heard in the Supreme Court. He noted that it is not possible for the outcome of the Judgment to be leaked or preempted the same date. He also wondered why such serious and weighty allegations against the sacred Institution of the Judiciary could not be supported by concrete and verifiable evidence. “Our client is concerned that such serious and weighty allegations against the sacred Institution of the Judiciary could not be supported by concrete and verifiable evidence. From your own showing, the purported excerpts were “brought down” before your client could capture and print. Your client’s claim is suspect, having regards to the technology which makes it possible to screenshot with quick dispatch. “Our client is a very civilized and cultured Nigerian and will not do anything that is inimical to the judicial process and will never condone such let alone, aid and abet the commission of such ignoble act of preempting the judgment of the Court,” he added. TheNigerialawyer (TNL) recalls that Mr. Adebayo Segun Oni, had through his counsel, Chief A.A. Adeniyi, in a letter titled, “RE: APPEAL NO:SC 205/2019 SC 206/2019: ADEBAYO SEGUN ONI V. JOHN KAYODE FAYEMI & ORS”, alleged among others that excerpts of the Judgment of the Court of Appeal in CA/EK/94/2018 yet to be delivered were posted on social media claiming that they “was taken down” shortly before they could capture and print the excerpts.]]>